Sin Tones

The main reason for the formation of the Sin Tones was, as their bio states, when lead guitarist Mike Hussey saw Pulp Fiction and was inspired by the music. Not exactly the most exotic or creative story of a band’s genesis, especially when you consider their record is being released and promoted by a book publishing company, Gutter Press. Petty criticisms of their bio aside, the instrumentals here are all quite solid, with their cover of “The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald” and the Phantom Surfers-like “Astro Girl” leading the pack. Problems begin, however, when the singing starts. The singer’s thin, off-time and often flat, fake Southern drawl takes away from the solid instrumentation. In other words, he can’t sing. This problem is best heard on “Maurice,” “Yesterday’s Tomorrow” and the ubiquitous cow-punk cover of all time, “Folsom Prison Blues.” If these guys just stuck to instrumentals they might have something to offer, but all the album’s weaknesses far outweigh the good points.